Third AnnualRiding For WarriorsAugust 2017

Michael and Jeff will be finishing their ride in honor of
their dear friend, and strong military/veteran supporter, who passed away
August 13.

With your support, Riding For Warriors has raised more than $75,000 in two years, granting eight (8) Wishes for service members through Hope For The Warriors A Warrior’s Wish® Program. The program fulfills a desire for a better quality of life or supports a quest for life-gratifying endeavors for post-9/11 service members, their families, and families of the fallen. Your generous contributions have also sponsored two Marines who ran the 2015 Marine Corps Marathon, completing long term personal goals.

This summer, Michael and Jeff are back Riding For Warriors again this year, and will be sharing Hope across New England in August.

The duo have chosen the following Wishes this year:

Army Staff Sergeant in North CarolinaFamily Camping Trips, $1,500

Our wish recipient is an Army Staff Sergeant who previously served in the Air Force and the Navy Reserve before enlisting in the Army National Guard. He deployed to Iraq in June 2004 and served as a squad leader attached to a field infantry unit providing convoy security. In August 2004, his convoy was hit by an IED, causing several compression fractures in his back, an abdominal injury, and psychological wounds. He was treated in country for his physical wounds and completed his deployment. He served for a total of approximately 27 years, active and inactive.

His original Wish request was for the purchase of a pull-behind camper; however, after thorough review by the A Warrior’s Wish® Selection Committee, he was awarded pull-behind camper rentals for this year and the opportunity to re-apply for the purchase of a camper next Wish season.

Army Sergeant in ArizonaFamily Camping Trips, $1,500

Our wish recipient is a veteran who served as a Machine Gunner and was stationed at Camp Pendleton with 2nd Battalion 4th Marines. He deployed to Burma in support of Operation Caring Response in 2008 and completed his active duty contract in March 2011. He moved to Arizona and joined the Army National Guard in October 2011. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 with the 125th Infantry Battalion. The unit was supporting combat and training operations with the Afghanistan Police in Kunduz Province. On February 26, 2012, his unit was attacked and ten soldiers, including the Army Sergeant, were injured while defending their post. He was medically evacuated and eventually transferred to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

His original Wish request was for the purchase of a pull-behind camper; however, after thorough review by the Warrior’s Wish® Selection Committee, he was awarded pull-behind camper rentals for this year and the opportunity to re-apply for the purchase of a camper next Wish season.

Marine Corporal in OhioFamily Camping Trips, $1,500

Our wish recipient is a veteran who served as an Aviation Operation Specialist and deployed four times. Throughout his deployments he witnessed the loss of 18 fellow Marines during an ambush in Nasiriyah, Iraq in 2003 and the loss of a close friend to an RPG attack in Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2004 which took a toll on him psychologically. Stateside during a pre-deployment workup he fell 12 feet from a helicopter during a time-release propelling training exercise and injured his back. Despite the injury, he went back to Iraq for his final deployment between 2005 and 2006, before medically retiring in 2009.

His original Wish request was for the purchase of a pull-behind camper; however, after thorough review by the Warrior’s Wish® Selection Committee, he was awarded pull-behind camper rentals for this year and the opportunity to re-apply for the purchase of a camper next Wish season.

Marine Lance Corporal in New YorkMaple Syrup Evaporator, $7,250

Our wish recipient is a Marine Corps Lance Corporal who enlisted in 1998 and in 2005 deployed to Iraq. While on foot patrol with his squad he was severely injured by a remote controlled IED. He was the closest in his squad to the blast and as a result, shrapnel hit his right limbs and pressure from the blast compromised his internal organs. He was medically evacuated and eventually transferred to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Among other physical wounds, he lost his right arm and had a right leg below the knee amputation. Following thirty-nine surgeries and multiple infections, he was medically retired in August 2006. His Wish is for an evaporator to support his family’s small maple syrup business.

Army Specialist in VirginiaWork Out Equipment, $5,500

Our Wish recipient deployed to Iraq with the 1st Brigade, 34th Infantry Division for 22 months. He provided convoy security and participated in village and combat operations. On January 1, 2007, his Humvee was involved in a head-on collision with a semi-truck and he sustained head, neck, and back injuries. He remained in-country, returning home with his unit July 2007. The service member sought medical and mental health treatment at Fort Meade, MD, and medically retired in January 2009.

His Wish is for equipment to support his goal in seeking physical wellness. His request includes two bicycles for him and his wife and two trailers to attach to the bicycles for his service dog and young son. It also includes pieces of equipment to build a home gym.

Hope For The Warriors®

Hope For The Warriors® is a national, nonprofit organization that supports wounded U.S. service members, their families, and families of the fallen. A group of military wives founded the organization in 2006.